Potential large scale wind farms coming to West Michigan

Industrial scale wind turbines could begin to pop up in West Michigan.

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/ Creative Commons

There’s been a lot of talk in West Michigan lately about how wind power could boost the region’s economy. The area, particularly along the Lake Michigan shore, could be home to several potential wind projects.

Potential projects

Muskegon County is looking for developers to build a large-scale wind farm on 11,000 acres at its waste water treatment plant less than 15 miles away from the Lake Michigan shoreline. County officials would like to see up to 75 turbines in order to produce between 75 and 100 megawatts. They expect to begin reviewing those proposals by May.

Developer Scandia Wind is proposing to put 50-100 wind turbines in two 50-square-mile areas in Lake Michigan. One would be four miles off the shore near Pentwater. The other is proposed six miles off the shore near Grand Haven. The company is also hoping to build the wind farm proposed at Muskegon County’s waste water treatment plant.

About 60 people gathered recently in Saugatuck; a tourist town on the Lake Michigan shore. Farmers, business owners, and residents wanted to learn more about the wind farms that could begin to pop up in the region both on and offshore. These are large scale wind farms with industrial turbines that would tower 300 to 400 feet tall.

Mike Obrien has worked for companies looking to build offshore in the Great Lakes. For years he’s been trying to convince governments, businesses and residents that Michigan’s manufacturing base is perfect for the wind power industry.

“We ought to own this. And we ought to put people back to work. It’s not the only reason we should do wind, but it’s a hell of an important one.”

But there are still a lot of people like Michael Johnson who are conflicted about the wind turbines. Johnson lives and owns businesses in Saugatuck.

“I don’t think anybody would argue with you that we need this renewable energy. The only problem is I don’t want it in my backyard.”

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Right now, the county rotates growing corn, soybeans and alfalfa on a giant, 11,000 acre plot of land where their waste water treatment plant is. They hope to lease out the land in order to add wind farming to the mix.

Mark Eisenbarth directs Muskegon County’s Wastewater Management System. He says they hope to build up to 75 commercial-sized wind turbines on the site. Eisenbarth says there are dozens of municipalities in Michigan with small turbines or even a handful of large ones. But he says this project will be unique.

“To actually get into a wind project where you’re actually creating 75 to 100 megawatts, we are not aware of any municipality, I’m not saying there’s not any, but I have not seen any yet.”

Muskegon County is soliciting proposals to create a wind farm that would generate between 75 and 100 megawatts. They expect to begin reviewing those proposals by May.

Northern Power Systems of Barre, Vt., intends to use a facility in Saginaw to manufacture its next-generation large wind turbines, expected to be the first ones built in the U.S. using 100% American-made parts.

Building wind turbines has been touted as a way to diversify a manufacturing base built around the automobile. Many auto suppliers in the state are also building parts for wind turbines. No report yet on how many jobs will be created.

But the future of wind power is uncertain. Tax credits and grants to develop wind energy are expiring at the end of the year. And with an ethic of austerity moving into Washington, there are little signs that they'll be renewed.